100 Years Ago in Redlands

Mr. and Mrs. Nelson Breakenridge and son returned last evening from an auto trip to Fresno. They were away about three weeks and traveled over a thousand miles while absent. Miss Carrie Breakenridge, sister of Mr. Breakenridge, whose home is at Fresno, came with them.

Mr. Breakenridge drives a Studebaker and reports that he had no trouble at all on the trip. He went north by the way of Bakersfield, crossing the mountains through Bouquet canyon, which he says is more crooked than a snake. Returning, the mountains were crossed through Mesquite canyon, the route being 30 miles longer than through Bouquet, but the road is so much better that the distance doesn’t count.

Mr. Breakenridge says that he saw lots of auto tramps, as parties traveling in automobiles and camping by the wayside are called.

AUG. 15, 1913

His motorcycle caught on fire

William Rohrer, trouble man for the Edison company, had an unpleasant experience this morning west of town, when the motorcycle he was riding sprang a leak and caught on fire. He came near having to come home in a barrel.

Rohrer could not get off the machine fast enough when the flames were discovered. In consequence, the seat of his trousers was burned, as was also part of his coat.

The services of a small boy were called upon, before the victim of the accident was able to present an appearance which would pass muster in polite society. A quantity of clothing was requisitioned and then the motorcyclist made arrangements to have the burnt machine taken to the Mulvihill store for repairs, which will probably cost in the neighborhood of $25. Rohrer was not injured.

When this little incident, as above noted, occurred, Rohrer was spinning along at a nice clip, humming to himself that pleasant ditty, “Mother, Mother, Mother, pin a rose on me.”

When he started for home he had changed the words but not the tune. Instead he sang, “Mother, Mother, Mother, pin a patch on me.”

AUG. 15, 1913

Brush fire caused alarm

A fire last evening in the foothills northwest of the state hospital at Patton caused considerable alarm in the valley for fear that a brush fire had broken out in the hills, but inquiry developed the fact that orange growers were burning a huge pile of trimmings from the trees of the Highland district, which had been hauled out to a bare spot to be incinerated. The flames attracted attention from the valley and residents for a time believed that something serious had started.

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Over 20 acres of brush near Dell, a siding on the Santa Fe a few miles south of Summit in Cajon pass, were burned over yesterday afternoon in a brush fire which started close to the railroad’s right of way, and kept a force of 25 men under Ranger Johnson busy for several hours to extinguish. Last night the fire was reported entirely out. It is thought the fire started from one of the usual agencies, that is, a spark from an engine or a live cigar or cigarette stub thrown in the weeds along the tracks.

AUG. 16, 1913

Beware the chicken law

The chicken ordinance goes into effect next Thursday, the 21st. People whose corrals would be in violation of the law were given 10 days in which to move them.

The terms of the ordinance are plain; no corral for chickens may be kept within 25 feet of any dwelling house except the dwelling house of the owner, and no horses may be kept within 50 feet of any dwelling house. A violation of the ordinance subjects the offender to a $25 fine.

After the law becomes effective a rigid inspection will be made and owners of stock whose corrals may be within the prohibited limits will be compelled to move them. All such persons ought to get busy now and save themselves expense and trouble.

The law was passed by the trustees in answer to scores of appeals from all parts of the thickly built up parts of the city. These people are not disposed to see the law remain a dead letter and will avail themselves of it whenever it becomes effective. The trustees and board of health are going to enforce it.

AUG. 16, 1913

Autos disturb his slumbers

John Gaenzle and other guests of the Casa Loma Hotel are up in arms against motorcyclists and automobile drivers who fail to use mufflers when navigating around the hotel. They say it not only disturbs their sleep, but is far from being conductive to nerve and mental tranquility during the day time.

“I do not see any excuse for tolerating that sort of thing,” said Mr. Gaenzle this morning. “I do not think I am a crank, but when a man stopped his car at the corner yesterday afternoon and spent an hour adjusting his carburetor while the machine made a noise like a sham battle, I began to feel as if I wanted to do something reckless. Why didn’t he go out in the country and make that fearful racket? And why do not these other drivers use their mufflers when running around town? Back where I came from they would not be allowed to be so careless very long.”

AUG. 16, 1913

No dances in McGinness Hall

Owing to the condition of the east wall of the building now occupied by the First National Bank, Building Inspector Armstrong has notified the owner of the building, Miss Mary E. Lewis, not to allow any dances in McGinness Hall, on the second floor, while construction is in progress on the new First National Bank building.

Since the old building at the corner has been torn down, the wall of the McGinness building has been left without some of its former support, and is not as solid as it might be. For that reason the building inspector considers it a necessary precautionary measure to stop dancing until the west wall of the new building is up.

AUG. 18, 1913

Wheel broken in collision

Stanley Jure’s gallantry made a happy ending to a collision Saturday evening between a Ford automobile and a bicycle ridden by a young man named Smith. The accident happened on Orange Street just north of the Santa Fe tracks.

The Ford was being driven northward along Orange Street by a pretty girl, who had a young woman sitting beside her. They passed Jure just as he was trying to turn his Chalmers car around in the street. To avoid striking his car, the fair driver of the Ford swerved to the right so that she struck the rear wheel of Smith’s bicycle, knocking him off. He was close to the curb at the time. The rear bicycle wheel was badly smashed.

The girls stopped their car, but when Smith went up to see about paying for the damages, Jure stepped forward, declared the accident was his fault and paid Smith’s bill. Everybody smiled and was happy.

AUG. 18, 1913

A. Leipsic returns from a purchasing trip to the east

The slit skirt has come to stay, at least for one season, and Redlands women who are planning to buy new fall suits should make up their minds to buy that kind. Such is the pronouncement of Mr. and Mrs. A. Leipsic on their return from a trip of five weeks to New York to buy fall stock for their dry good store here.

Women who do not like the slits may sew them up if they want to, but all the goods as they come from New York will have the slits in them. That’s all there is to it, and City Marshal Larmore and Police Judge P.G. McIver might just as well give up their opposition to them or leave town.

The skirts, all of them, have slits in the sides, slits behind or slits in front. The length of the opening varies from six inches up, according to the woman’s idea on the subject. Six inches is the minimum; there is no maximum.

“Ninety percent of the women of New York and Chicago are wearing slit skirts,” explained Mr. Leipsic this morning, as Mrs. Leipsic nodded her approval. “Not only that, but the diaphanous, or silhouette, gown is very popular. I don’t suppose they would go in Redlands, especially after what Marshal Larmore and Judge McIver have had to say on the subject, but they are numerous in New York. Another feature of gowns this fall is their fancy trimmings. The simple but scientific gown is in the discard. Sashes and other extras are the thing. We bought a very complete line of Christmas novelties in addition to the dress goods.

“When I was in one of the New York cloak houses, the proprietor showed me an article in the Christian Science Monitor describing our road-building up in Mill Creek canyon, which shows that the city has obtained considerable advertising by the event. I was surprised on arrival at our New York office, 31 Union Square, to find a letter addressed to me to that address and labeled ‘Mr. Redlands’ instead of ‘A. Leipsic.’ Mrs. Leipsic and I had a very pleasant trip, taking several runs down to Coney Island and Long Beach, Long Island, and stopping off two days in Chicago. Yes, the Facts reached us regularly every day we were in New York.”

AUG. 18, 1913

Strenuous days for the mayor

After helping W.E. Gearhart and A.W. Griffith, of Huntington Beach, to catch 97 trout in Mill Creek Saturday, a task that required the hardest kind of work from the gray of dawn to the dusk of evening, Mayor M.W.H. Williams, of this city, accompanied by Mrs. Williams, led the grand march at a dance given by Mrs. Kate Harvey at her resort on Mountain Home stream Saturday night. The dance was followed by a candy pull. A large number of Mrs. Harvey’s guests and campers were present.

It was a day strenuous enough to suit Col. Roosevelt, but the mayor was at work again this morning as usual.

AUG. 19, 1913

U. of R. coach has arrived

Just as soon as school opens at the University of Redlands the work of trying out the men who will comprise this year’s football team will begin, the university’s new coach and physical director, Ashel Cunningham, having already arrived here from the east. Mr. Cunningham and his family are living at the residence of H.E. Ringle, on Sylvan Boulevard.

Mr. Cunningham came from DePauw University, in Indiana, where he has been coaching the team. He is an expert man and said to be one of the best coaches in the Middle West. While he was in Indiana University he played on the football team and after graduating assisted in coaching the team before he was summoned to DePauw.

Mr. Cunningham feels sure that he will like Redlands. He was here and established before the members of the faculty of the university knew that he was in Southern California. He has already inspected the university and the gymnasium and feels that the equipment is excellent, considering the youth of the school.

The outlook for the University of Redlands in football this year is indeed promising. Manager Hentschke is greatly pleased over the prospects.